Souffle Bowl Featuring the Silhouette Cameo™

Design by Mags Bonham

This project requires a basic knowledge of how to use the Silhouette Studio® Software and the Silhouette Cameo™ or Portrait™ machine. I have created a cutting file for use in this project by manipulating a file downloaded from the Silhouette Design Store. I have chosen Sculpey® Souffle` for it’s flexibility and durability.

Each machine, be it Cameo, Portrait, or clay conditioning machine, is different. You may have to adjust some settings slightly to get the best result. Do a test sample on scrap clay before starting your project. Your goal is to cut the clay without gouging the mat.

Souffle Bowl Featuring the Silhouette Cameo™

Souffle Bowl Featuring the Silhouette Cameo™

Step 1:

Getting Started
Polymer clay may stain. CLAY MAY DAMAGE UNPROTECTED FURNITURE OR FINISHED SURFACES. DO NOT USE polymer clay on unprotected surfaces. We recommend working on the Sculpey clay mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult.
Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. For best results, condition all clay by running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Step 2:

Select a form to bake bowl on (ex. large round light bulb, small metal bowl, or wooden sphere)

Step 3:

PREPARING THE CAMEO MACHINE
Move the black rubber rings on the main roller shaft as far to the sides of the shaft as possible. Otherwise, you will get roller marks on your clay.

Step 4:

Unscrew the white cap from the Silhouette Cutting Blade.

Step 5:

Place the Silhouette Cutting Blade into the blade ratchet tube and turn it so the red line points to the number 0 (or 1 on some blades) and place the blade into the holder and lock in place.

Step 6:

Remove the protective film cover from the Silhouette Cutting Mat and replace it with Reynolds Freezer Paper. Place the shiny wax side of paper to the adhesive side of mat. This will protect the adhesive from mucking up the inner workings of the machine. You will be using the back side of the cutting mat to cut your clay layers

Step 7:

CUTTING THE CLAY
Condition half of each package of clay and roll out to the #5 setting on the SCULPEY CLAY CONDITIONING MACHINE (about 1.0mm thick). Cut each sheet into a 5” square.

Step 8:

Cut a 1/2” square from the remnants of one of the two colors and mix it in with the translucent sheet until you achieve an even color. Re-cut the tinted translucent into a 5” square. This will be the inside lining of the bowl.

Step 9:

Cut three pieces of the clear peel & stick paper that are 6” square.

Step 10:

Open the POLYMER BOWL.STUDIO3 file in the SILHOUETTE STUDIO® SOFTWARE. The red image is the middle layer of the bowl. The purple image is the outer layer. And the blue image is the tinted translucent inner layer.

Step 11:

Move all but one layer off of the mat and center it on the mat about an inch and a half below the arrow.

Step 12:

Peel off the liner from one piece of peel & stick paper. Remove some of the adhesive by pressing the sticky side to your clothing or a piece of fabric. You don’t want the paper to be too sticky. Position the peel & stick paper on the back side of the Silhouette Cutting Mat - centered to the arrow and about a half inch from the top of the mat. Mark the peel & stick paper at the top center so that you can align the layers later.

Step 13:

Pick one of the colors of clay and lay it on the peel & stick paper - centered and matched up to the grid at the one inch mark. Use your hands to smooth out any air bubbles and adhere the clay to the mat. Finish by rolling with a rubber brayer to assure that there is no air caught between the mat and the clay. Roll the brayer from the center out to each corner.

Step 14:

Load mat into the SILHOUETTE CAMEO™ or PORTRAIT™ machine.

Step 15:

Open the Cut Settings section of the SILHOUETTE STUDIO® SOFTWARE and set ‘speed’ to 8 and ‘thickness’ to 2. (The ‘thickness’ setting does not refer to the actual depth of the material being cut. It refers to the density of the material or how much force it takes to cut through the material).

Step 16:

You are ready to send the file to the Silhouette to be cut. Sit back and be amazed as the blade slices through the clay.

Step 17:

Once the cut is finished, carefully pull up each corner of the peel & stick paper from the mat until the entire sheet is removed from the mat.

Step 18:

Repeat steps 11 thru 17 for each sheet of clay.

Step 19:

Remove all of the excess clay from each layer. A needle tool, craft knife, or pointed tweezers work best on the inner bits.

Step 20:

Lay the middle layer, with the clay side up, on your work surface. Pick up the outer layer, with the clay side down, and line up the center marks on the peel & stick paper to help align the layers. Once aligned, press the clay layers together.

Step 21:

Flip the new ‘clay sandwich’ over and place it on your work surface with the middle layer of clay facing up. Remove the peel and stick paper from the middle layer.

Step 22:

Leave the peel & stick paper on the tinted translucent layer to guide the clay. Use the center mark to align the layers and press together. Remove the peel & stick paper from the inner, tinted translucent side of the ‘sandwich’. Remove any air bubbles by pressing the bubbles towards the edge of the ‘sandwich’.

Step 23:

Remove the ’clay sandwich’ from the work surface and center the ‘clay sandwich’ on your form. Press to adhere the center portion of the ‘sandwich’ to the form. Carefully remove the peel & stick paper so that the ‘sandwich’ remains stuck to the form. Now press the remainder of the ‘clay sandwich’ to the form. You will need to manipulate the edges to conform to the curvature of your form

Step 24:

Place the form in a pan of polyester fiberfill and bake as directed above. Once cured and cooled the bowl can be removed from the form.